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Nov 12, 17

Tampa, FL: 130 Years Since Haymarket Martyrs Were Hung

November 11th marked what many statists call “Veterans Day,” but many anarchists know this day in which we celebrate the life of our very own martyrs. 130 years ago, to the day, our martyrs were marched to the gallows while they sang the Marseillaise. Engel, Fischer, Parsons, and Spies were then placed side by side while onlookers gazed and a rope fastened to their necks. Spies’ last words were, “The time will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today.” Engel and Fischer both screamed out, “Hurrah for anarchism.” The trap door fell and the rope tightened. The rope pulled tight while our comrades struggled for air, which would never fill their lungs again. Their death was not quick and they died a slow and painful death for their beautiful ideal.

We should be reminded that their deaths were not in vain. Their deaths sparked a beautiful ideal in many when they became martyrs for anarchism, one of whom was Emma Goldman. Throughout her whole autobiography, Emma talks about the love she had for these sent to the gallows. They were an inspiration to her and they have been an inspiration to so many on that day 130 years ago, 11 November 1887.

With this in mind Tampa area anarchists decided to drop a banner in solidarity with out martyrs. The banner says, “Solidarity with our Haymarket martyrs / 11-11-1887 – 11-11-2017 / Here you will tread upon a spark, but there, and there, and behind you and in front of you, and everywhere, flames will blaze up.” We say, solidarity with all OUR veterans on this day and every day, from Tampa to Chicago to Kurdistan, Şehîd Namirin, Martyrs Never Die!

-Raincloud

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